I can't kill, i'm bishop

Sharon Mathala | Monday January 25, 2016 18:00

Mokate denies ever seeing, let alone killing a Molepolole Magistrate Court intern last year October.

In the affidavit signed on December 22, 2015, filed at the High Court of Botswana, Mokate says that he has never seen the deceased, Nthabiseng Motlogelwa. dead or alive. He says that “contrary to popular belief” he did not participate in her killing, which is alleged was for ritual purposes. “On 3rd December 2015, at, or around 11am, I received a call from the Molepolole Police who informed me that they were looking for me. I advised them that I was passing Mogonono settlement en route to my cattle post. They asked me to wait for them in Mogonono as they were urgently looking for me,” he writes.

Mokate explains that when the police arrived at Mogonono, they informed him that he was wanted in connection with the murder offence. He claims that he complied with the police and went with them to the Molepolole Police Station. The bishop says on arrival at the police station he was confronted with the allegation that he participated in the murder of one Nthabiseng Motlogelwa.

Mokate further claims in his affidavit that he has never “seen the said Nthabiseng Motlogelwa, dead or alive, nor do I know her. The first time I heard of her was when I was confronted with the allegation that I murdered her, an allegation that I vehemently deny. I am a Bishop I cannot participate in such evil”.

“My faith, Christianity, teaches that ‘thou shall not kill’ and I fully subscribe to that. Not only do I teach this central theme of our faith. I fully live it,” Mokate says.

He adds that since his arrest he has not been furnished with anything that links him to the murder. He says the police have only told him that they are still investigating and that they should be given more time to locate and arrest other suspects.

He wants to be granted time out of jail whilst investigations continue because he is a family man, a married man, a bishop and a respected member of society. He says he has no desire to be a fugitive from justice and there is nothing to run away from. “I once again deny the allegation that I murdered Nthabiseng Motlogelwa. I intend to vigorously defend myself against the charge and clear my good name, which is being tarnished by this allegation.”

Mokate who is currently in jail, is expected to appear for mention this Thursday (January 28) on a murder charge he is facing together with five other men.